«السِّبَاخْ زَرْعِ الْأَهْبَلْ»

The saying pictures a simpleton who is really a farmer clumsy at ploughing and sowing; the label points to his lack of farming skill, not general foolishness. If manure, the fertilizer spread on his fields to strengthen the crop, is plentiful, his crop will still stand up and do well, supplying what his poor technique fails to provide.

Taken more widely, the saying observes that a strong aid can stand in for missing ability. When the right support is in place, even an inexpert person may turn out a good result, and the credit belongs largely to that support rather than to the worker's own skill.

Suitable for commenting on someone whose good outcome rests more on a favourable resource or advantage than on their own competence, such as a beginner whose work succeeds thanks to excellent materials or help that offsets weak technique.